It is less than a week from the longest night of the year for us lucky cyclists in the Northern hemisphere. Articles about lighting systems and losing form are what we cough up. @Strathlubnaig has even shorter days than most of us, works at sea, gets out on the bike and writes about it. Rule #9 or not, when is it ever a bad idea to ride a bike?
VLVV, Gianni
Two weeks offshore, trying to save an oilfield. I return to the beach and try to remember where I parked the car. Driving home I notice not much has changed since I left except there are even less leaves on the trees, more mud on the roads, it gets lighter later and darker earlier.
I arrive home in the dark, but my thoughts turn to The Bike. I check the forecast, and the following day is to be commuter chaos they say, windy and torrential rain, more floods they say.
Perfect day for a bike ride then.
In the morning it takes forever to get light. It is bad enough at 56.5 North at this time of year, but the Great Cloud Belt which can seem to perpetually hang over us like some Biblical Punishment makes it seem worse. In fact, it is worse.
I pull open the closet door under the stair where my kit lives. I pull out some bibs and a jersey, then look at the twilight-like conditions and change the jersey for a slightly brighter colour. Safety first. The kit is clean and laundered, it smells fresh and hopeful, full of optimism. It is around 8 degrees out, so a merino undershirt goes on too, and a pair of Ron Hills over the top of the guns.
I dig out the spare tubes and the little tool kit and slip them in my back pockets; tubes in the right, tool in the centre, phone in the left. Out the door I go and into the garage where The Bike sits, waiting patiently and stoically like a loyal Edinburgh terrier, unmoved and untouched for two weeks. The small meter still has the last ride on screen. That seems like an age ago. Using the track pump I check the tyres and stick a bit of wind in. I spin the pedals and the chain flows through the cogs smoothly and silently. All is in order. Helmet and glasses on, I wheel her out and down the drive, clip in and away. How will my legs be, I wonder. Two weeks of gym bike on the rig, not the same at all.
There is a fine feeling of comfort and joy. It is raining, the sky is sombre and low clouds scud across our nearby mountains, pregnant with more rain. Bring it on. Down the road and I head off the long straight which leads to the first climb. My mind slips deftly like the gear changes into ride mode. Work issues, family troubles, general worries and other concerns always exist but for the next two hours such things will be dulled and even forgotten. Riding The Bike is like codeine and I am grateful to be back.
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@Marko
Agree on the Lobster Claws. Bought myself some last year after that Reverence article and one of my rides with them was at -8C with no hand issues at all (and I have pretty poor hand circulation). As for other articles of clothing, on that ride for example on top I was only wearing a base layer and my Castelli Espresso Due jacket. Not cheap, but at 5C and below keeps you quite comfortable. Gets hot when it's closer to 10C though.
Can't get the link button to work. The link is: http://castelli-cycling.com/en/products/detail/520/
@strathlubnaig Can't name it but what a bonnie 'gap'!!
Winter cycling when living in London sux. Most motorists seem to have received a lobotomy as an early christmas present, everybody is out for family walks in Regents Park (therefore using the baby pram as an effective way of forcing priority at crossings even when the traffic has the green light), it gets dark, cold and damp really quickly and the light quality is such that even if you're lit up like a lighthouse, you're still invisible to other road users, apparently.
Bring on the spring/summer...
@strathlubnaig
I had an electric blue pair and some in navy. As late '80's bikewear they were peerless.
They were also the cause of my first sporting sartorial faux pas - socks must under no circumstances be worn over the bottom of the leg but concealed underneath. Also the stirrups must not be placed under the foot.
I may be halucinating but I seem to remember that they were part of the PTI uniform at Police College...
@strathlubnaig
Rest and be Thankful?
@the Engine
Yes some great colours, the lime green and the purple were my favourites, matched my Petzl climbing harness and PA's too ! Aye, Ron Hills were well loved by all, from mullet haired mountaineers to Arbroath PTIs and cadet coppers at Tulliallan, but as you said, never put the stirrup under your foot, ffs...
And so to the location in the picture, as I sense my brief foray on the front page of this glorious website will soon fade into The Archives, like a bright comet seen for a short span of time, gazed at but soon forgotten...
It is the A861 between Strontian and Corran Ferry over on Ardgour, looking West, with Garbh Bheinn on the right going into The Clouds. The Tour d'Ardgour makes a very fine Century ride (161km...)
Cheers all. Good try @TheEngine
@Ron Drilling and use of a screw extractor bit was the only way i was able to remove a cleat with the same issue. Or if you can get a hold of a dremel tool to cut a notch in the top to accept a flat screw driver might work. I always use a very small dot of blue lock tight at the middle of the screw when intalling new cleats but i also check them often as well.
It always good to hear / read articles like this. You nailed it on free the mind so we can just enjoy the ride. The true pleasure of our sport / passion !
@DerHoggz try these http://barmitts.com/ with only a thin glove. Way more touch and feel.
@Salsiccione Good call on the bar mitts , there are a few guys i roll with ( or use to roll with i relocated to NZ for a bit ) but they like um. I use the lobsters with MTN Hardware thinsulate underneath down to -10c . it will buy you two hours of ride time which is always nice. Over the years i have learned to slow the pace down and just run certain level of " V" . still like to hold my coffe a the end with out leaving skin behind because the hands are ice cubes.